Orphaned Insuite Keypads
and Fob Access Control Systems

CondoSecure has a perfect solution for this industry problem....
Click here for details

 
As you may have heard recently, a company named Interlogix has left the security system market entirely. They were the manufacturer of a product called “VEREX” that was very popular from about the year 2002 to recently, providing the insuite keypad and fob security systems for many buildings. Chubb Security also sold the VEREX system with their own brand name on it.

Their sudden departure from the market with very little notice blindsided industry reps and system integrators alike.

How do you tell if you have a VEREX system that is affected by this?

• Most VEREX fob readers and insuite keypads have “VEREX” printed right on them. Simply look at them to see if they are VEREX brand.

What does this mean if your building has VEREX insuite keypad or fob access control?

• Your community will no longer be able to reliably access parts and support once your system supplier runs out of spare parts, only used parts scavenged from other upgrade projects will be available. Fobs will be very hard to acquire.

This is not unprecedented, with companies such as Europlex, Digiquad, and others, being closed down in recent years by their large parent companies who desired to focus on other more lucrative business such as Fire Systems. This resulted in a large number of communities with “orphaned” keypad and fob systems, many of which have upgraded to CondoSecure as a complete replacement. 

Meanwhile, solutions to this Verex situation have included trying to source old, used equipment online from eBay etc. 

Indeed, the suggestion in December by Interlogix was that their current dealers should encourage customers to purchase multiple spare parts now. While this would be a nice “win” for Interlogix, to capitalize one last time on their now defunct systems and sell off remaining inventory, it is of course only a temporary solution for current system owners. This is ultimately a waste of capital that could go to a permanent solution for your residents and owners. 

A longer term more financially sensible solution is to upgrade these systems. Although a new system should last 20 to 25 years, many VEREX systems are already in the 10-16 year range. It is not unreasonable to consider fully upgrading to a system that is both reliable and has been around for the long term, ideally one that is fully focused on this market segment, as opposed to those that consider the highrise living security market a secondary or opportunistic market.

Things to consider when looking at a retrofit system:

• Is the new system compatible with the existing wiring?

(Having to rewire the building is both very expensive and very inconvenient for the residents)

• Does the system have a method for matching the wall footprint of the older system, so walls do not need any special refinishing once the upgrade is completed?
• Are old fobs reusable with the new system?

In the suites, a good retrofit keypad will install using the same wiring as the old VEREX (or other, older defunct system) and have a similar size and backplate system for providing a quality fit and finish in your resident’s homes, with minimal inconvenience. 

As mentioned, there are systems that were installed by “Chubb” in some projects, which is actually a re-branded VEREX system locked to Chubb for service along with expensive monthly fees. There are also a few labeled “Guardall”. These systems are suffering the same fate with VEREX leaving the market. Here are the three brands, which are all “VEREX” in fact, private labeled.

Sometimes systems can be upgraded on a “per suite / opt-in” basis, where the Corporation pays for the common area equipment and the individual residents can ‘opt-in’ at some low cost of perhaps $100, to have their keypad upgraded. This has been done for communities that have already had expenditures that depleted their Reserve. We have many other options for deferring costs or splitting between 2 budget years.

For the fob/card access system, the most important consideration would generally be to find an upgrade system that can allow you to continue using existing credentials (fobs and garage remote ‘clickers’). Replacing these is by far the greatest expense in changing over a fob access system, and finding a replacement system that will allow you to continue using the existing fobs while being able to add new non-Verex ones going forward, will make the upgrade vastly less expensive. Note that this is not already possible, as some Verex system are ‘locked’ to the dealer, meaning only they can get fobs compatible for the system they installed. If locked, it is a problem for ANY dealer looking to upgrade, but as a manufacturer we a system for working around this also in most cases.

Lastly, look for a company that is in it for the long term. A Canadian company that focuses on highrise living security isn’t likely to ever “leave the market” at the behest of a larger overseas parent company. While there are a few newer companies you may look at, it is most desirable to have one that has specialized in this field for decades and whose system is widely available to any dealer and integrator company that you may choose to work with now, or in the future.

www.CondoSecure.com

CondoSecure is a Canadian integrated design and manufacturing company specializing in the development and production of advanced security systems focused for the highrise living sector, since 1987. All our products are designed & manufactured here in Canada, allowing us to provide the best price and service for the highrise residential marketplace.